Day 156
I Peter 2:24
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
Jesus went through a lot to provide salvation for us. As I Peter 2:24 reveals, He took care of our sins and sickness on the cross. As we think back on Calvary, let us appreciate and appropriate all that was provided.
Our Savior set His face to go to Jerusalem one day. It took dedication, determination, and great love to finish the course of redeeming mankind. He was betrayed by a man he loved. Judas worked with Him for three years, during which time Jesus met all his needs. Then, for thirty pieces of silver, he betrayed his master. His other disciples fled, when He was arrested. Peter and John stayed close by to see what would become of Him. Then, Peter denied knowing Him, for fear of what it might cost him, if they found our he was one of the twelve who served Christ faithfully. Ashamed of what he had done, Peter wept bitterly, as he left the scene. John was the only disciple of the twelve who remained close by until the end to see what would become of the Son of God.
Jesus was dragged before unjust men and tried as a criminal in a court that was unfair. He was mocked, badly beaten and humiliated, as they spat on Him. Foreign soldiers beat His back 39 times with a whip, ripping open his flesh. A crown of thorns was placed on His head, and blood flowed all over His body. He was made to carry a cross up Golgotha’s hill. After He fell under the load of that cross, someone else had to carry the tree the rest of the way. Then, they nailed his hands and feet to the cross. The sinners He was dying to save helped carry out the sentence upon this just Man. He prayed for their forgiveness, as He prepared to breathe His last breath as a human being. Matthew 27:46 records his agonizing cry to His Father, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” For the first time, He experienced the horrible separation from God that He came to deliver man from. As Jesus took upon Himself the sin of the world, God had to turn away from His only begotten Son.
He spent three days and nights in Hell and took the punishment we would have received, so we would never have to experience it. Then. when justice was served and the price was paid fro our sin. He officially defeated the powers of darkness and loosed the Old Testament saints, who were waiting for Him in a place called “Abraham’s Bosom”. He was resurrected. He returned to Heaven and placed His blood on the mercy seat to begin a new era for humanity. The blood represents His successful venture to make a way for man to be free of Satan’s power and live eternally with God.
He took our sins, so we could have His righteousness. He bore our sicknesses and diseases, so we could enjoy health. When someone works hard to give us something, if we really want to make them feel like everything they went through was worth it, we would tell them how we used the gift and how much it helped. Let us express gratitude, as we receive and walk by faith in the benefits provided for us.
I receive what God has provided for me through Jesus Christ. By faith, I will walk in my salvation. I am free from sin and sickness and disease.